Mavs’ Irving sits out with tightness in back

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving was ruled out Wednesday night against the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets due to tightness in his lower back.

It’s the last game for the Mavericks before the All-Star break.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd didn’t elaborate pregame what happened with Irving, only saying that, “It happens. Could have been from a fall in that game the other night.” Kidd thought Irving would participate in the All-Star Game this weekend in Salt Lake City.

The Mavericks acquired Irving as part of a trade with Brooklyn on Feb. 6. Irving averaged 28.3 points in his first four games with the Mavericks.

He and Luka Doncic have taken the floor twice together since the trade and have dropped both games.

In addition to Irving, the Mavericks were without forward Davis Bertans (calf), guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (hamstring) and forward/center Maxi Kleber (hamstring) against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.

Denver guard Jamal Murray was ruled by coach Michael Malone out due to inflammation in his right knee. HORNETS 120, SPURS 110 » LaMelo Ball had 28 points, 10 assists and a season-high 12 rebounds and Charlotte beat San Antonio to send the Spurs into the NBA AllStar break with a 14-game losing streak.

Ball had his third triple-double of the season and franchise-leading ninth overall.

PACERS 117, BULLS 113 » Buddy Hield made six 3-pointers in the second half and finished with 27 points, helping Indiana rally from a 24-point deficit after the first quarter and defeat Chicago.

Tyrese Haliburton banked in a 9-foot shot for a 113-112 lead in the final minute, Myles Turner sank two free throws and Hield closed it out with a pair of foul shots with 7.1 seconds remaining as the Pacers snapped a five-game skid.